Coronation Street actor ‘probably drowned’ - inquest told

Ashleigh Withall-Prince

A Wirksworth actor whose body was discovered last week probably drowned, an inquest has heard.

The inquest into the death of actor Trevor Smith (pictured below) was opened at Chesterfield coroners’ court today (Wednesday, January 14) after his body was discovered at Middle Peak Quarry.

Trevor Smith, also known as Trevor Hancock, who went missing from his home in Wirksworth on Monday.

Pathologists told the hearing that an initial post-mortem examination on the 42-year-old suggested he had drowned.

PC Adrian Harris, of Derbyshire police, told the court that police started a search after a concerned friend had contacted the police after Mr Smith disappeared from his home in Bowling Green Lane on January 5.

He added that police were not treating the death as suspicious.

Twenty members of Derby Mountain Rescue Team as well as a specialist search dog were called to help find him.

Officers traced his mobile phone to the quarry where they discovered the body the following day.

Sister Julie Smith identified the body as that of Mr Smith’s at Chesterfield Royal Hospital on Wednesday, January 7, the inquest heard.

The actor, who was also known by his stage name Trevor Hancock, had made numerous television and film appearances over the years, including parts in Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Hollyoaks and No Angels, as well as co-founding Wirksworth theatre company Men in Dressing Gowns in 2006.

Senior coroner Dr Robert Hunter said his office was still awaiting full post-mortem and toxicology results.